WHEREAS, Trafficking in persons is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. Every year, thousands of men, women, and children fall into the hands of traffickers in their own countries and abroad; and

WHEREAS, Trafficking in persons is a crime that includes three elements: (1) the act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring, or receiving a person; (2) by means of coercion, deception, or abuse of vulnerability; and (3) for the purpose of exploitation; and

WHEREAS, The International Labour Organization estimates that 21 million people are victims of forced labor globally. This estimate also includes victims of human trafficking for labor and sexual exploitation. While it is not known how many of these victims were trafficked, the estimate implies that currently, there are millions of trafficking-in-persons victims in the world; and

WHEREAS, Children make up almost one-third of all human trafficking victims worldwide, according to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2016 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Additionally, women and girls comprise 71 percent of human trafficking victims, the report states; and

WHEREAS, Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. Trafficking often occurs from less developed countries where people are rendered vulnerable to trafficking by virtue of poverty, conflict, or other conditions to more developed countries. The Americas are prominent both as the origin and destination of victims of human trafficking; and

WHEREAS, Preventing human trafficking is an enormous challenge, requiring the sustained efforts of many. Collaboration between government and nongovernmental stakeholders is critical to strengthening efforts to prevent modern slavery; and

WHEREAS, In 2013, member states of the United Nations designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, and declared that such a day was necessary to [raise] awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of California, That the Senate condemns trafficking in persons, especially women and children, which constitutes an offense and a serious threat to human dignity and physical integrity, human rights, and development, and hereby recognizes July 30, 2017, as World Day against Trafficking in Persons; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.